The FPRA actively campaigns for the interests of leaseholders and resident management companies, and is consulted by government and other organisations.

News and articles in the current Winter 2009 edition of the Newsletter (available to members only)

• The Companies Act 2006, which had its final stage implemented on 1 October 2009, is assessed. The changes in the Act affect all Residents' Management Companies.
  
  
• Do blocks of flats need websites? Stephen Guy looks at the question and surveys companies offering free websites for blocks.
  
  
• Philippa Turner keeps members alerted to recent legal judgements on leasehold.
  
  
• Q&As this quarter include whether residents' associations can have an opt-out membership structure; if businesses run from flats can, or should be, stopped; and the legal procedures to follow when a leaseholder dies.
  

* Improving Section 20 procedures

* Energy effeciency and the Green agenda

* Disability issues

* Disclosure of insurance commissions

* Safety of service charge funds/regulation of agents

* Making Commonhold work

* Improving legislation

* Improving operation of Leasehold Valuation Tribunals (LVTs)

News Monitor
Links to newspaper articles about leasehold and blocks of flats

Regulation calls for retirement leasehold industry
LCampaigners call on the Government to regulate the retirement leasehold industry.
Timesonline 20.02.10

Beware the menace of the expiring lease
Leaseholders warned that lease extension costs esculate when the lease drops below 80 years.
The Independent 24.01.10

Retirement home companies accused of overcharging service charges
Residents of retirement homes are urged to fight against excessive charges.
Timesonline 26.09.09

Channel Four News story on retirement home exploitation
Looks at excessive charges to elderly leaseholders in homes owned by Vincent Tchenguiz/Consensus
C4 News 1.09.09

Rise in complaints about soaring service charges
The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) reports an increase in complaints about heavy service charges
Timesonline 29.08.09

Developer's charge for electricity shocks leaseholders into action. Leaseholders pay excessive electricity bills because developer has monopoly of suppy
The Observer 16.08.09

Leaseholders behind many of Britain's leasehold problems
Letter writer argues that leaseholders themselves can be a problem
The Argus 28.07.09

Flat-owners pay as insurers and agents split cash
Another story about block insurance over-charging
TimesOnline 25.07.09

The Money Doctor: Must We pay for a service we don't receive? Peverel retirement home lessee questions service charge demand
Daily Mail 15.07.09

Is it time to abolish our existing leasehold laws?
For and against arguments in The Observer's Question of the Week.
The Observer 14.06.09

Leaseholders left flat broke as service charges shoot through the roof. Leaseholders tell of managing agents which hike up charges
The Observer 5.04.09

Now angry leaseholders kick back at the brokers
How flat owners could be paying up to double the rate for buildings insurance, thanks to hidden commissions being shared out between brokers and managing agents
The Observer 1.03.09

Why conditions may be perfect for haggling with your freeholder over the cost of extending your lease, as lease extension value is linked to falling property values
The Observer 1.03.09

Block of flats where rubbish is sucked away in underground tubes
Story about experimental rubbish disposal system
(London) Evening Standard 11.02.09

How soaring charges soured the dream of 'affordable' flats
Rotten estate management and high service charges in a block with shared ownership flats.
Guardian 31.01.09

Sold down the river
Leaseholders deal with shoddy managing agents
The Sunday Times 30.11.08

Managing to overcome rack and ruin. Shocking tale of neglect at an unsafe and uninsured block of flats
The Observer 4.05.08

Flat Freedom
Buying a flat can be much trickier than purchasing a house.
The Observer 23.05.06

CORGI Replaced by Gas Safe Register
From 1 April 2009, the CORGI gas register ceased to exist, being replaced by the Gas Safety Register

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett urges local authorities in South East to deal with the problem of empty homes
COI press release 10.3.09
FPRA comments: could this have an impact on blocks of flats?

Be Part of the Great British Refurb - to cut emissions and cut energy costs. Draft plan for all UK properties to be near zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Department of Energy and Climate Change press release 12.02.09
FPRA comments: this seems to mark a significant shift of emphasis from residents to properties.